Mental health checks for gun applicants not necessary

There is no obligation on gardaí to check the mental health of an applicant for a firearms certificate, the tribunal heard yesterday.

The details emerged as the tribunal began its sixth module relating to Garda procedures for the control of guns and other firearms.

This examination forms part of its overall investigation into events surrounding the shooting dead of Mr John Carthy, who had a history of mental illness, by gardaí in Abbeylara, Co Longford, on April 20th, 2000.

Supt Philip Lyons of Granard Garda station said that under official Garda guidelines a superintendent needed to be satisfied that an applicant for a firearms certificate met a number of criteria.

Things which would disqualify an applicant for a certificate, under the Firearms Act (1925), include the applicant being of "intemperate habits" and "unsound mind".

Supt Lyons said that while there was no specific instruction for gardaí to check the mental health of an applicant, gardaí typically checked records for any criminal records or "unusual" behaviour which may have been logged on the PULSE computer system.

The vetting process also included an informal face-to-face interview with a first-time applicant, along with inquiries to locals or other gardaí who may be familiar with the applicant. Gardaí could also seek the consent of the applicant to obtain medical records from the applicant's GP.

If gardaí identified any grounds for an objection, the superintendent would typically make further inquiries, Supt Lyons said. There were no set procedures for the vetting process, Supt Lyons said, except that the superintendent was satisfied that a firearms certificate should be issued.

In hearings last year the tribunal heard Mr Carthy's firearm was confiscated in August 1998 while gardaí investigated allegations that he was unstable and had threatened to shoot children in Abbeylara, Co Longford.

It was returned to him in October 1998 after Mr Carthy's consultant psychiatrist told Granard Garda station's then Supt Denis Cullinane that Mr Carthy was "very well" when he last saw him.

These matters, however, were not examined yesterday.

Counsel for the tribunal also read a report on police procedures in New Zealand relating to the issuing of firearms certificates.

The police force's vetting process includes searches of police records, court orders and criminal records.